Forget the quarterback questions and the constant speculation surrounding Johnny Manziel for a second, the Cleveland Browns also have a crowded backfield that deserves some attention as well.
Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West both had their impressive moments in the starting lineup last season. Even so, rookie third-rounder Duke Johnson enters the mix this year after leaving Miami as the school's all-time leading rusher, an impressive feat when you remember that the U also produced Clinton Portis,Willis McGahee and Edgerrin James.
So which of the trio will emerge as Cleveland's starter this season? Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz thinks it will be Crowell.
"Once upon a time, Crowell was an elite, five-star running back recruit," Schatz wrote. "Then he got kicked out of the University of Georgia for a felony weapons arrest and finished his college career at FCS Alabama State. The Browns signed Crowell as an undrafted free agent; he hasn't caused any off-field problems, and the talent was clearly still there. Crowell still has excellent balance and vision to move through his blockers. His combine 40 time of 4.57 seconds is more impressive when you consider that he weighed in at 224 pounds, giving him a 102.7 Speed Score [a good score is 100]. By the end of his rookie year, Crowell moved past third-round pick Terrance West on the Browns' depth chart, and he'll probably be the Cleveland starter in 2015. He's not much of a receiver, so rookie Duke Johnson Jr. will fill the role of third-down back."
Crowell carried the ball 148 times for 607 yards (4.1 YPC) and eight touchdowns in 15 games last season. Although he needs to work on his consistency, he showed enough to prove that he belongs on the field on game day in some capacity. We'll see how he handles the duties of being a feature back in the NFL in he can continue to hold off West and Johnson.
